|
Master (Sifu) Jesse E. Dwire IV - Godan
(5th degree Black Belt)
Master Dwire started his training in 1989
with Sigung Rudy Duncan in Camillus, NY.
At the Age of 18 Master went to Niagara University where he began his first school at the university named the Niagara University
Karate Club (NUKC). During this period Master Jesse received his Bachelors in Social Work with a minor in Criminal Justice.
At graduation, he was honored with entry into the National Honor Society for Social Work. While at Niagara University,
Master Dwire was able to train, prepare, and promote 3 students to black belt status who continued the school after
his graduation. He likewise would constantly drive home to continue training with his instructor, Master Duncan,
who in turn would travel to Niagara University 4 times a year to test Master Dwire’s students, insuring they were
of the highest caliber.
After graduation, Master Dwire continued
to assist Master Duncan teach and prepare his students at Duncan’s Martial Arts Academy. At this time, Master Dwire furthered his education by obtaining a
Massage Therapy License from the Onondaga School of Massage Therapy, one of the top 5 schools in the country. He passionately believes it
is as important to heal as it is to defend oneself. This training enabled him to complete the full circle in his arts.
In 1999 Master Dwire moved to Lowell MA where
he assumed the leadership of the Dragon - Phoenix Martial Arts & Fitness school.
In the summer of 2000 Master Dwire attended Grand Master George Pesare's Annual Beach camp. For his loyal honor, he was awarded an honorary
black belt from the Kaito Gakko along with his current rank of 3rd Dan.
In November 2000 Master Dwire tested
and earned his 4th degree black belt under the tutelage of Professors Robert Nohelty and James Bryant. In June 2004,
Master Dwire tested and earned his 5th degree black belt under Masters Bruce and Brett Gonsalves.
On November 13, 2004, Sifu Jesse E. Dwire IV was presented with the
Belt rank of Godan by his instructor Sigung Rudy Duncan. On Dec. 27, 2004 Sigung Duncan, after presenting Master Dwire his 5th degree belt, was awarded certification and title
recognition of Master Instructor in the art of Karazenpo Go Shinjutsu. Since Master Dwire has been in Massachusetts and under Sigung Duncan's tutelage, he has trained with several excellent
highly ranked instructors and maintains an open mind to constantly learn and grow from those who are willing and
able to teach.
In 2005 Master Dwire tested for and achieved the rank of 5th degree black belt in a second
Kempo System. This system was founded by Kimo Ferreira Soke. Prof. Kimo's art is called Kempo Jutsu and has
a great foundation in the Hawaiian arts from GM Walter Godin and many other great teachers. M.D. acknowledges Sigung
Duncan as his teacher, mentor and friend for the past 18 years.
Master Dwire continues to lead his school
at 225 Stedman street, suite 25 Lowell, MA 01851. and can be contacted at (978) 441-2212.
Sensei Paul Castagno - Yondan (4th degree Black
Belt) (Chief Instructor - Natick)
Sensei Paul started martial arts in 1995 at the age of 14. Originally starting to learn
self-defense, he had no idea of the many other benefits that await him as he continued to train. Through the years he got
into great shape, gained confidence, and found his passion for teaching.
In 2000 Sensei Paul attained his Black belt after enduring a grueling
8 hour test. With intense training and commitment, Sensei Paul tested for his 2nd degree black belt in 1 year.
Something that is rarely accomplished by most martial artists. In 2003 Sensei Paul tested for his 3rd degree black
belt, as well as becoming Master Dwire’s right hand man and top instructor. During Sensei Paul’s black belt recertification
test in 2005, he was recognized as a 3rd Dan in the Kempo Jutsu-Kai by 10th Dan Professor Feliciano
(Kimo) Ferreira from Hawaii.
In 2005 Sensei Paul was lucky enough (Thanks to the effort, training
and support by his teacher and mentor Master Dwire) to pursue his dream of running his own Dojo. On August 1st
Sensei Paul assumed the responsibility of becoming the chief instructor of Dragon Phoenix Martial Arts’ newest school
in Natick Ma. Since then Sensei Paul has continued
to be a dedicated, hard-working martial artist who participates in numerous seminars in various styles to continually educate
himself and grow as an instructor. He teaches every class with enthusiasm and
discipline, and looks forward to teaching you the many benefits that the martial arts have to offer.
Sensei Max Newlon - Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt)
Since November of 1996 Sensei Max Newlon has been studying Kempo karate initially under
Sensei Bill West and now under Master Jesse Dwire IV. Sensei West taught him for 3 years until Master Dwire acquired Dragon-Phoenix
Martial Arts. He has also been studying kung fu since April of 2005.
Sensei Max received the rank of shodan (black belt) at age 10 in June of 2001 and
nidan (2nd degree black belt) at age 13 in December of 2003. He also completed the instructor’s course at age 10. He
has competed in over 10 tournaments and has won many trophies, including 1st place in junior black belt forms ages 10-17 at
age 11.
He is currently a Senior at Westford Academy and aspires to one day open his own Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts School.
Sensei Lesley M. Mathews - Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt)
Sensei Lesley has been studying Kempo for 8 years. She began her
studies with Sensei Bill West and continued with Sensei Jesse Dwire when he assumed leadership at Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts
in 1999.
In addition to being a martial artist, Sensei Lesley holds the degree of Bachelor’s of
Music Education from the UMass - Lowell. She also received a teaching fellowship from Ithaca College, NY while she earned her Master’s in Music Performance.
As a public school music teacher Sensei Lesley taught in several area schools including
Haverhill, Newton, and Waltham. She has also directed several area musicals and was the director and coordinator for the Master’s Self Defense
Centers Karate Demos in 2002 and 2003.
Sensei Lesley is a published author and currently finishing a fictional story based
in a karate dojo. She hopes to publish it in the near future.
Lesley lives in Chelmsford with her husband Gary and her daughter Alyssa who currently holds the rank of Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt).
Sensei Bob Fritz - Sandan (3rd degree Black Belt)
Sensei Fritz was honored to begin studying Shotokan karate from
1974 - 1983 under his first mentor Shihan Kazumi Tabata with whom he attended 3 "special trainings" and participated in several tournaments. Shihan Tabata taught him that, "The greatest fear one has to overcome
is the fear within one's self. You must bring your outside inwards and your inside outwards. Your outside may be afraid, but
the inside is calm."
Bob began studying Kempo karate in 1998 with Stephanie "Tess" Rath from the Academy of Health & Martial Arts while she was studying under Master Jody Mullaney. He really enjoyed the opportunity to train with and learn from Sensei
Tess.
He has been training with, assistant teaching, and immensely enjoying his mentor, Master
Dwire at Dragon-Phoenix since 2002. In the 6 years he has been studying kempo karate, he has
been honored to have met in seminars: Great Grandmaster Victor Gascon, Grandmaster George Pesare, Grandmaster "Kimo" Ferreira,
and SiGung "Rudy" Duncan.
Sensei Josh Faulds - Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt)
Sensei Josh is 20 and graduated from the Middlesex community college GED program. He obtained his black belt in
June of 2003 after beginning karate only 3 years earlier. He has been assisting and teaching since the age of 15 and is an
active member of the Demo Team. Sensei Josh has competed in many tournaments including being the youngest competitor in his
division at Grand Master Pesare's "Best of the Best" tournament. Josh enjoys taking
seminars were he can learn as much as he can about the world of martial arts to make himself the best he can be.
Sensei Mark House - Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt)
Sensei Mark has been studying Shaolin Kempo Karate for
over 6 years. Since receiving his Black Belt 2 years ago, he has been assisting with instruction during classes. He graduated
Colby College in 1997 with a degree in Computer Science. While at Colby, he was a member of the fencing club and its captain for 3 years.
Following Colby, Mark received his MBA from Boston College in 2001. He currently works as a systems analyst and resides with his wife in Lowell, MA.
Sensei Anna Graves - Nidan (2nd degree Black Belt)
Sensei Anna has been studying Kempo since October of 2001. She received
her black belt on November 06, 2004. Shortly after she received her Sensei instructor title. Sensei Anna has been in many
tournaments and won multiple trophies. She is also a member and captain of the Dragon-Phoenix demo team.
Anna graduated from Chelmsford HS and is now a Sophmore at UMass Lowell.
She has been playing the cello in school for about seven years as well
as participating in many charitable events.
Sensei
Derek White - Shodan (1st Degree Black Belt)
Sensei Derek
has been studying Kempo since February of 2001. He took a break from karate,
not intentionally because he had to have knee surgery in 2004. He was back in
Kempo soon enough, receiving his black belt on March 19, 2005. Sensei Derek has
been involved with the demo team since 2001 and is a currently a coach along with Sensei Max, Sensei Josh, and Sensei Anna. He has participated in many tournaments and won many trophies. Derek will be a senior in the fall of 2006. He has been playing
the guitar for about eight years now and is currently undecided about where he wants to go to college and what he wants to
do.
|
